Ministry seeks legal action against TikTok ‘monk’ video

Ministry of Religion spokesman Seng Somony has asked authorities to take legal action against two people who made a mockery of Buddhism to get famous on TikTok.  A man called Kol, who painted himself black and dressed as a monk and danced with a girl in a video posted to a TikTok account on Sunday. 

The girl, named Phy Sakmai, is the owner of the eponymous account. The video went viral, and many Buddhists are dismayed with their actions. Somony told Khmer Times yesterday that that their activities have negatively affected Buddhism, the religion of the Kingdom. He added that the Ministry of Religion as well as the clergy are disappointed that Kol and Sakmai did the kind of thing which debases the value of Buddhism.

“The Ministry of Religion has no right to prosecute them, only police can carry out legal action”, Somony said, adding that, Article 508 of the Penal Code, Chapter 5, stipulates that wearing a Buddhist robe without the right carries a sentence of between six days to three months imprisonment and a fine of between $25 and $125. Accordingly, authorities should immediate take legal action, he said.

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